Closed The Singer and The Healer

[Aradia]

Aradia listened to Iosha’s words intently, keeping silently as she gave her philosophy on love. She was right, she wouldn’t force it. She was sad that she had yet to experience love, or even lust for another individual. She knew what it was to love her family, even a friend, but nothing like the greats would sing about. When the Pale Lady spoke about liking both sexes, Aradia laughed a little, ”You are right, it is always best to keep your options open. I just wonder what… it feels like… to be… kissed, sometimes.” Aradia shrugged her shoulders, ”One day. But I am like you, variety is always best.” Aradia chuckled, winking at her pale friend. Aradia absorbed the Konti’s teaching on the curse word. Remembering to say it with a smile and a innocent look, that way no one would know that she was actually throwing a curse word their way.It was quite devious, and Aradia liked the fact that she wouldn’t get into trouble, that they wouldn’t know what she was saying. They would take it as a compliment, and never be the wiser of what she really said to them. The singer listend to the Konti’s brief explanation of her family history, keeping quiet as she spoke. Once she spoke of her mother being a bard, excitement flared in the little singer’s eyes. The Pale Lady wanted to learn how to sing and play the lute too, to honor her mother. Aradia knew she could help her out with the singing, not the lute as she had yet had time herself for lessons. But then the woman spoke about magic, though she tried to cover it up, it was too late the word was already spoken, and the look of shock on the Singer’s face was proof of that. ”I can help you. With the magic and singing. If you’d like.” Aradia said with a smile, ”I am a pretty good singer, or at least I think I have a beautiful voice. So I would not mind giving you vocal lessons.” The singer’s face lite up, ”I know Fire Reimancy and Shielding, so I wouldn’t mind helping with that either, if you are interested?” Aradia did not speak of her magic easily with others, come to think of it; this woman was the only person she had ever told about it. Her brother Red didn’t even know about it, she usually went off to herself to practice, keeping it a secret from everyone’s eyes. Some people accepted magic, others… Well, they condemned people for practicing such things, so it made the Singer nervous. This woman is amazing. Aradia thought, her smile growing wider with that thought. She had finally found someone she could get along with, not feel judged, or brought down by. What a relief it was to the young woman. The friend’s decided to call it a day, maybe to return some other time to practice together, or at least Aradia hoped they would. ”I am not sure. I am not well versed on the city just yet. Where can one go for a little fun?” Aradia asked, following the Konti woman, ”Fun and privacy would be best. I want to hear more about your… magic.” Aradia spoke the last part in a whisper under her breath, only for the woman to hear, that way no eavesdroppers could hear her say the word.

[Iosha]

Iosha smiled slightly to herself when the woman told her that she kept her opinion open in her love life too. The konti wasn't expecting to get that sort of reply from the timid woman. Iosha quickly moved her mind off the topic not wanting to her imagination to take control of her senses. However, the konti white skin blushed slightly when the young woman winked at her. The blond woman knew she didn't hide the fact. She was a wizard from the young ginger woman very well, and the shock in the woman's eyes made the konti wished to herself that she was more tight lipped at the moment. Iosha eyes went wide herself when the woman offered to help her learn how to sing and work on their magic together. The konti knew magic users were everywhere in Mizahar, but she didn't expect it from a innocent human like Aradia. When she told her that she was a reimancer and shieldist, Iosha violet eyes brightened because she was terrible at shielding. She started to wonder who taught magic to the Inarta, but she figured it could come up in a more private place. Iosha ran a hand through her hair nervously and said with a laugh, “I would love to take singing lessons from you...” Iosha leaned forward and whispered to Aradia in her ear, “..I know reimancy and shielding magic, so it look like you have a new study partner Aradia.” Iosha pulled back from the woman, and she said with a smile, “Well, I know of a good place talk privately, and I always wanted to explore it with someone. If you are up for it, Aradia? Wanna go to the Underground Forest? I heard it a forest with mushrooms the size of trees, but I heard it could be dangerous, so I should head to my apartment to grab my sword.” Iosha motioned her to follow, and she looked back at the chiet and said with a smile, “You don't have to walk behind me Aradia. We are friends aren't we?” It wasn't hard to become Iosha's friend. She just had to see you were a decent person, but she didn't want to Aradia to think she was a servant around her. Iosha lead her threw Wind Reach to her apartment, and she opened the door to her place holding it open till the woman entered her apartment. Iosha didn't buy much furniture since she came to city two season ago, so it was quite barren and had a lonely atmosphere to the place. Iosha tended to take her mind off her loneliness with her addiction to reading. On her main table was a small pile of book sitting on her table. The titles ranged from medical, gardening, and spiritualism. Sitting on the pillow of her bed was a trashy romance novel called Nights in the Arms of a Wind Eagle: Winter Heartbreak. Iosha smirked at Aradia and shrugged slightly, “I guess you have to start somewhere don't you. It is not much, but I call it home for now. Maybe in the future, I will get a larger place, but I am fine with my hole in the wall. Make yourself at home, Sweety. While I find my sword if you still want to go to the forest.”

[Aradia]

Aradia was over joyed to have someone to practice with. Practicing music and magic alone was quite lonely, and if she missed something up another’s eyes may see it where she may not. She had an urge to jump up and down in happiness, but she kept it at bay. The loud display of jovialness would bring too many watching eyes, eyes she did not want on them at the moment, not while they were discussing such a sensitive topic. ”It will be an honor to study with you.” Aradia said with a smirk. She was happy someone in an higher status as the Konti accepted her offer. As they walked, Iosha pulled her back, telling her of a place called the Underground Forest. Perfect… An Adventure! Aradia said to herself. The whole mushrooms being the size of trees made her mind travel to a place of fantasy. To see something so miraculous sounded amazing, even if they were a little danger involved. ”An adventure without danger is boring anyhow. I have never heard of this place you speak of…. I would love to accompany you there. Two is stronger than one.” Aradia said excitedly, her violet eyes gleaming. The woman told her not to walk behind her, since they were friends. Aradia nodded her head and caught up to the woman walking beside her. Once they entered her apartment, Aradia looked around at the sparse housing. It seemed the woman did not spend much time here, and when she did it was occupied with reading. Reading books was a great past time hobby in Aradia’s opinion. A perfect escape away from the realities of the world, a great way to learn new things as well. ”Your home is lovely, I especially like all the books lying around.” Aradia said sitting at the table, ”Of course I still want to go. I do not have a sword, so the bow will just have to do for now. I cannot cast fire at a whim, I have to concentrate on the ability still.” Aradia said watching the woman find her sword. ‘ Once she had her sword Aradia stood up from the table, ”I do not mean to be impatient but… Are you ready to go? I can’t wait to see this underground forest!” Aradia said happily looking into the violet eyes of the white haired Konti. Their friendship had just been struck, but Aradia felt like it was going to be long lasting, and the bond would only grow stronger. Especially if Aradia could drop her walls and stop being so timid around the woman, but there was plenty of time for that. For now, her mind wondered to what could be in the Underground Forest, especially if it had mushrooms the size of trees.

[Iosha]

Iosha picked up her sword sheath and belted it to her waist. The konti could tell the Aradia was excited because she seemed to be getting impatient about going to the underground caverns. The blond woman heard stories of a clear crystal lake somewhere in the forest, so she figured it would be a great place to study their magic alone. Iosha smiled at the woman when she complimented her about her home, and said modestly to her with a smile, “You are just being polite; however, thank you for the compliment, Aradia. I would have bought furniture this season, but I plan on buying a horse in the spring, so furniture will have to wait for now.” Iosha looked at her and nodded when she said she couldn't cast fire on a whim. Iosha figured Aradia was a novice like her in reimancy, so Iosha smiled at her, and said softly, “Well, I would definitely rely on your archery than if we encounter the giant bats.” Iosha heard stories about the giant bats and slugs that inhabit the Underground Forest, and if a adventure or miner got bite by one, they often feel ill from the wound. Luckly, Iosha was a healer of Rak'Keli, so if anyone of them got bit, she could remove the infection from the bite. Iosha looked at her with a smile, “Supposedly there is a underground lake in the forest, so I kind of want check it out, and my reimancy for now deals with water. It would be a good place to practice our magic since it is a good source of water.” When Iosha was ready, she opened the door for Aradia allowing her to leave the apartment first. Iosha had wanted to go back to the forest for awhile. Last time, she went down to the cavern was when she running a errand for a Symenestra, so she didn't get much opportunity to enjoy the splendor of a natural wonder. As Iosha walked through the warrens, the konti asked to her not sure if she should ask, “What did your mother look like Aradia, and what did she do in Wind Reach? I can tell you got the eyes from your father, but I am curious about your mother if you don't mind telling me?” Iosha was curious about the wizard walking next to her, and it was a personal question to ask someone she just met. The trip through the warren was a long one since they had to go into the interior of the mountain to get to the cave. Iosha didn't say much unless spoken too. She was trying hard to remember the way to the cavern. While they walked light was getting harder and harder to come by, and the sounds of the city were almost non existence in the forgotten warrens. Iosha remembered her mother telling her daughter that her father took her mother to the Underground Forest since the glowing mushrooms and spores gave the cavern a almost romantic feeling about it, and the lake was one of there favorite getaways from the city. When Iosha and Aradia got to the forest, she could see the glowing spores drifting out of the opening and gathering on the ceiling or the sides of the hallway. It felt a fairy tale looking into the mushroom forest, and the konti smiled at Aradia and pointed out a giant spire like mushroom stretching up to the ceiling. Iosha reached into her backpack, and pulled out a white shirt from her days as a traveler. Today, she had taken on the attire (white vanti and bryda) of her father's people hoping to not stand out as much, but the faint konti scales running up her the side of her legs, side of the abdomen, back of the shoulders, and tops of the arm gave away the fact she wasn't human. Iosha looked up into the darkness of the ceiling and saw the moment of large shapes hanging from the ceiling made the konti eyes widen for a moment as placed a web finger on her lips telling the Aradia to be quiet. Iosha nodded her to follow her to one of the large toad stool looking mushrooms. Iosha tied the shirt around around her head hoping the shirt would give her added protection from the spores in the air. Iosha quickly ran to the nearest mushroom hiding under the hard fungus ceiling. She motioned the woman over to her from under the mushroom keeping a eye on the ceiling. When Aradia made it her, she gave the woman a warm smile and said quietly, “We are all ready having a adventure, the movement in the shadows are most likely giant bats or giant insects.” Iosha smiled at the soft glowing spores have taken a liking to Aradia's hair crimson hair. She reached over, gently brushed them out of her hair, and watching the spores accent back into the air in a cloud illuminating the area around them.

[Aradia]

Aradia laughed a genuine laugh, it coming out in a soft musical like tone, “Maybe so. But you have your own place. Something to be proud of to be sure. There are far too many without such a thing. “ Aradia kept the tone soft, but in reality she knew that the Deks had a hard living, and her heart mourned for them, especially having a mother whom was a Dek herself. But the mention of the horse made her brush the thoughts away. ”I had to sell my horse. She was a blood bane, had a mean temper, but was fiercly protective. She couldn’t come with me here to Wind Reach, I had to leave her in the Spires.” Aradia made a cute pouty face at that, but she had not been with the horse long enough to form a really strong bond. She knew that where ever she was now, she was happy, safe, and well fed and taken care of. So that lifted her spirits about leaving the horse behind. The topic turned to speak of giant bats and an underground lake. The latter sounded promising, the former… Well it frightened the little Singer a great deal. She was a soft person, not much of a fighter unless provoked. She was one of those types of people other’s found annoying. Wanting to spread love and happiness in the world, not bring bloodshed. Aradia sighed, ”Giant Bats…? I… well I will try my best with the bow if it comes down to it. But this lake you speak of, it sounds wonderful. So it may be worth it. “ Aradia said with a small smile. She was worried about these large bats, wondering if they could swallow her tiny body whole, or if they were the size of dogs. Either way, bats were creepy, large bats were just terrifying. They walked out of the apartment, Aradia walked beside the Konti woman this time not because she was told to do so, but because she wanted to. She was really feeling at ease around her. She had a calming aura, a magnetic pulling personality. She enjoyed even walking in the short silence with the woman, until she asked about her mother. It was a tender subject for Aradia, something she did not really talk well with others. Iosha had been so sweet though, and so with that in mind Aradia spilled her some-what secret to the woman. ”My mother is a beautiful, amazing, talented woman. Strong, fierce, and has a temper. Though she never really directs it at me, it saved for my father.” Aradia giggled under her breath at the memories of her mother yelling at her father. Usually her father did not deserve it, but he would just laugh it off, calming her down with a kiss. ”She was a Dek. She did a little bit of everything. Even had to give sexual favors to others to learn a few things. Like magic. Even though she did these things, she still stayed true to herself, and she escaped the torment of her life. During that escape she stumbled on my father, and he too had left Avanthal for a better life. And so, on that snowy evening a love like no other was struck between the two. A love that I have been jealous about for quite some time.” Aradia spoke softly about the Dek part, but she still kept an air of arrogance. She was not ashamed of who her mother was, but she still felt bad that her mother had to endure all she did here at Wind Reach. ”My eyes came from my father. His change with his mood like most Vantha, mine are stuck with violet and blue. My hair is a mixture of my mother and fathers. The Aurora lights live on in the high lights of it, that is why it looks kind of pink in the light.” Aradia looked over at he friend, a soft smile on her face. She was happy she could share such information with someone, someone who seemed to actually care about what she had to say, instead of using that information against her. Her mind went to Noric, how he tried to break her down, make her drop from her pedestal that she had finally worked her way to. How he used her tenderness to destroy her. Once the pair made it to the forest, the flowing of the spores drifting lazily around was an amazing sight. It reminded Aradia of the stars in the dark sky, just a little different. The mushrooms were indeed large, large enough to sit on, and Aradia so wanted to do that. She wanted to sit on a mushroom, or maybe jump from one mushroom to another, and have a little fun. Aradia shrugged the urge off and let the Konti take the lead, though she followed close behind. As the woman walked ahead, Aradia admired the beautiful scales displayed on the woman’s skin. She was so unearthly beautiful it was breath taking. The glowing light from the mushrooms glinted off the scales, making them twinkle ever so slightly in the dim light, it was a breath taking sight and the woman could not help the blush that blossomed upon her cheeks. The adverted her eyes so she would not get caught googling at her, and to make the redness ease away. The woman ahead stopped, looking up at the darkness of the ceiling. Aradia frowned slightly, wondering what she was looking at. Iosha brought her finger to her lips, telling Aradia to be quiet. Aradia peered up a the ceiling. There were large dark things moving around in the shadows if one looked closely. If someone did not notice it, they would just see a dark ceiling. But the brief movement frightened the little singer, and she swallowed the gasp of surprise and went in the way her friend nodded her to go. The pair went under one of the large mushrooms, hiding from the menacing creatures up on the ceiling. Aradia went closer to the woman, frightened, feeling her soft skin as well as the scales that were there. The woman told her the news she did not want to here. That the moving shadows were indeed bats or insects. Aradia let out a small whimper, and looked around with her wide colorful eyes. The woman reached over, brushing some of the spore out of Aradia’s hair, making the woman smile. ”What are we going to do now? Should we try to make a run for it? I don’t think shooting an arrow up there would be wise, it would only stir them and make them angry. Maybe if we just go about our way… quietly?” Aradia asked the pale woman, her eyes wide with fright. Her words come out in a soft whisper, but they were slightly stammered from the fear of being ate by the bats. ”Do you think they could swallow us… whole?” Aradia asked, looking up at the ceiling once more.

[Iosha]

Iosha glanced over at the frightened woman, reached out and squeezed her hand trying to comfort her, and said to her with a mischievous grin on her face, “Well here is the plan Aradia. I am going to run out and start yelling 'Hey Bats! You think your so tough?' Than I want you shot them while they are chasing me through the Underground Forest...” Iosha gave her friend a wink and said seriously, “No, I believe we should have no problems with them if we stay as quiet as possible heading through the forest.” Iosha smirked at the woman trying to hold back her laughter at the absurd statement and said with a wink, “They will eat me first because I taste like fish.” The konti could tell the woman was still frightened, and still holding the woman's hand lead her to the next large mushroom. When they made it too the next mushroom, Iosha looked up at noticed the bat haven't heard them, so she let go of Aradia's hand. Iosha decided to keep up with the strategy of keeping to the large mushroom until she couldn't see the movement in the shadows. Iosha looked back at her friend and said with a smile, “I think we are out of the clear Aradia.” Walking through the forest, Iosha couldn't help herself from being captivated by the sights of the place. The Konti seen fungi in the surface forest, but down in the cavern the forest fungi seemed to be plain compared to brilliant glowing surface of the multicolored mushrooms. Suddenly, Iosha stopped and pointed up at a giant three steamed toad stool, and each toad stool was a different color. The closest mushroom to the ground was yellow, the next highest was orange, and the highest was red. The most breathtaking sight was the spots seemed to illuminate the color of the mushroom. Iosha only look at it in wonder as she walked up to it. The konti looked around the ground of the larger mushroom, and she saw perfectly round mushroom the size of a large sack littered under the mushroom tree. When she saw the mushroom forest for the first time, she instantly thought of the coral forests surrounding her home island. While looking at the mushroom, Iosha remembered she didn't say anything after Aradia told her story of her family, and Iosha said without turning around, “Your mother sound like a brave woman Aradia. Honestly, I can sympathize with her ordeal in Wind Reach because I was also a slave too” Iosha didn't know why she was telling her this, but she continued sadly and briefly, “I was a enslaved to a rich merchant in the city of Ravok about eight years ago.” Iosha turned around with a smile on her face, “I figure that you told me, so much about your family history. I can give you a glimpse into my past too.” Iosha turned away from Aradia and looked up at the toad stools, and she wondered if she could climb the mushroom tree. It was a silly notion because she had no clue how to rock climb or even climb a tree, however, what was the harm in trying? She walked up the lowest toad stool that was about at head level with her. Iosha reached up touching the surface of the mushroom. She grabbed onto the mushroom and tried to lift herself up onto it, but the konti webbed hand slipped from the damp surface, and she landed on her butt. Iosha laid back on the ground for a moment and got up wiped her butt off and said to Aradia, “OK, maybe it was a bad idea to try climbing one of them.” Iosha gave up on the idea on climbing the giant fungi, and she looked at her surrounding trying to figure out where the clear lake cave is in the forest of mushrooms. Looking around Iosha bite her bottom lip, and she said nervously to Aradia, “I think it is deeper into the cave. The miner said it in the first smaller cave off the main cavern. I just hope we don't get lost in here..”

[Aradia]

When the Konti told her of the plan that she had formulated, a shocked look appeared on the Singer’s face. She was not that great at Archery, she would have been eaten. Then the woman gave her a wink, and told her the actual plan of going quietly. Aradia gave a nervous but relieved chuckle, happy to hear that they were not going to do to the former plan. ”Thank the stars we are not going to run around wildly screaming at bats, while trying our best novice attempt at shooting the bats down with a bow.” Aradia said with a smile. The woman’s comment about her tasting fish made her frown a little. She could not help but wonder if the woman really did taste like fish. For some odd reason she had an urge to just lick the woman’s arm. But that would be awkward as well as weird. The pair of adventurers started moving once again. Aradia grasped her friend’s hand with an iron grip, still slightly frightened that the bats was going to eat them. They moved to the next large mushroom, and then another, then the Konti let Aradia’s hand go telling her that they were in the clear. Aradia exhaled a large pent up breath, and wiped her brow, winking at Iosha, ”Good. I was about to faint from holding my breath so long.” Aradia laughed softly, still trying to stay quiet, just in case. The entered a place in the Underground Forest that was such a fantastical sight. Aradia could not help but gape at the multicolored mushrooms that Iosha pointed at. The closest of the mushrooms to the ground was a glowing yellow, that reminded Aradia of the sun on a clear summer day. The next was orange in color, then the highest of the mushrooms was a red, that reminded her of the vibrant red haired of the Inarta. The spots seemed to radiate the color of the mushroom. The pair approached the colorful shrooms, in awe. Other smaller mushrooms were on the ground underneath the shroom tree, reminding the Singer of fallen leaves in fall. It was a beautiful sight to see, and the glowing illumination made the white of Iosha’s hair shine with color. Aradia could not help but stare in amazement, wishing there was a way to capture the mushrooms in a picture, but she was not a painter. Iosha spoke again, making Aradia withdraw from her thoughts of artistry. She told the Singer of her being a slave as well, in Ravok of all places. Aradia gasped and held her hands against her chest in shock. Aradia knew how bad Ravok really was, knew the dangers, the two faced people, and the killers lurking in the dark alley ways. She figured since Aradia spoke of her past, that she would give her a glimpse of her own. ”Iosha… I am so sorry. I was in Ravok, I know how cruel a place it is. But… It makes you a stronger person though, right?” Aradia said, trying to be positive and insightful, giving the woman her warm smile, reaching out and grasping her shoulder reassuringly, then letting her hand fall back to her own person. ”I do hope that the slaver was killed… slowly and painfully… for what he did to you.” Aradia said fiercly, showing her Inarta side of her personality. A side she usually kept hidden from people, she preferred to be all happy and go lucky, but this was a sensitive subject. Aradia could not stand the whole slave ordeal. She wanted to shed blood of those who treated another human being wrongly. Aradia smiled at the woman as she began to try to climb the mushroom tree. Aradia had thought about doing the same herself, but she decided to let the Konti be the test subject first. She grabbed the mushroom trying to pull herself up, but unfortunately she came down on her rear. Aradia chuckled shaking her head at her Konti friend. ”How about next time, I give you a boost?” Aradia suggested with a smile, brushing some left over dirt from her friends behind, then looking around the cave as she spoke about the first smaller caver off the main cavern being where the lake was. Then she said something that made Aradia groan, Iosha hoped they did not get lost. Aradia wondered if they already were lost, it was a dark place after all. Aradia of course knew if it was she leading, they would have been screwed. She barely made it traveling through the lands, had it not been for fellow friendly travelers pointing her in the right direction. Traversing a dark unknown cave with killer bats and weird glowing mushrooms though? Yeah, she was not that great at navigating through such environments. ”I hope we don’t get lost either. But I have faith that you will lead us in the right direction my friend.” Aradia said smiling over at Iosha, giving her wink. Aradia was always trying to look on the brighter side of situations, no matter how negative they may be or seem. Aradia squinted her eyes a bit and peered around the cavern, it was slightly difficult to see in such dim lighting. ”Did the miner say anything about land marks? Like maybe a big pink glowing mushroom indicates that we are close to the cave?” Aradia asked with a serious look on her face. Maybe it was slightly humorous, if they were not in a cavern full of glowing spores. She was being serious, plus a pink glowing mushroom would be fabulous to see.

[Iosha]

Iosha just bit her lip unable to say anything about her time in Rovak, she looked away from the woman when Aradia said the time in the dark city made her stronger, but in truth, the city on the lake almost destroyed the heart and soul of the kindhearted woman because it basically made her a whore for her master and his clients. Iosha knew her ignorance of the world sentenced her daughter to a life of servitude, and in the end, she hoped her daughter could forgive her for her stupidity. When Iosha heard what she said about her Master, Iosha looked at the ground in shame and thought simply to herself, “No, I let him live Aradia, but one day, I will remedy the mistake.” Iosha smiled and nodded to her when she offered to give her a boost on to the mushroom. The konti noticed the sweetness in the woman. Aradia seemed to embody her Vantha heritage, but in the moment where Iosha revealed she was a slave. The fire of her Inarta side came out in her words. Iosha wondered if the anger toward the Deks and slaves in general stemmed from the fact that her mother was Dek. Iosha knew the woman was going to have a tough time when she started to realize the true treatment of her mother's caste. The konti thought the Dek situation was horrible. In Wind Reach, Dek were treated as disposable beast of burden for the upper castes. Lost in thought, Iosha was jarred from her thought when she heard Aradia groan about them possibly being lost in the Underground Forest. Iosha smiled at her when she put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and chastised herself, “I would have better faith in myself if I had a map of the cave when I came here.”Iosha looked back at the mushroom tree and said to her without looking at her, “On our way back, I think it would be a good idea to keep in mind our mushroom tree, so when we leave the cave, we will know the exit is near.” Iosha stared at the tree for a moment to implant the image of the mushroom in her mind. Iosha rubbed her chin trying to remember a land mark the miner told her about that could point her to the direction to the Clear Lake Cave. She looked at Aradia and said softly, “If we head to the green trees than we went to far, and they said something about a clearing in the forest. It must be farther down the cavern, Aradia.” Once again, Iosha glanced at the tree for reference and motioned for Aradia to follow her. The konti kept her eyes moving looking for land marks for point of reference. She noticed it was harder to navigate underground because she couldn't see the sun, and at times, the light of the spores fluctuated throughout the cave. It was a eerie feeling when the spores weren't concentrated in a area because Iosha could feel the darkness encroaching on them. At times, the konti would walk faster to get to a area full of spores, so the darkness didn't envelope them. When they walked out into the clearing, Iosha was horrified at how dark the cavern was compared to cavern leading to the entrance. She walked into the clearing, and she could see a few small glowing mushroom scattered throughout the floor, but it was not enough to make a difference in the amount of light. She looked up at the ceiling and said with a smile to Aradia, “Look Aradia, stars!” Iosha knew they weren't stars, but the tiny glowing mushrooms on the ceiling acted like stars in the dimly light cave. It was a beautiful sight having a night sky under ground even if the stars were made of fungi. Iosha looked through the darkness, and she could see a faint green glow in one direction. She looked up at the ceiling, and she saw the ceiling mushroom were denser leading towards a cavern to their left. Iosha knew she didn't want to get separated from Aradia in the darkness, so she reached out and took her hand, and she said with a warm smile, “What do you think, Aradia. Do you want to go towards the green light, or would you like to follow the stars?

[Aradia]

Aradia nodded her head at the woman’s wise words, ”Great idea Iosha. You’re so smart.” Aradia said giving the woman a friendly smile as she stared up at the mushroom tree, that hopefully they would be able to climb if they were not too tired on the way out. The Singer listened to the Healer’s words about green trees meaning that they went too far, nodding her head, and retaining the information. Once again they were walking into the dark abyss, the only light coming from the eerie glow of the spores around them. The darkness began to shroud them, suffocating Aradia, or at least she felt like it. She was beginning to miss the radiant sun above her, as they walked further into the darkness. Staying close to Iosha as they walked quickly from a dark spot to a more illuminated one. They came upon a clearing, and in this clearing there was so much darkness that Aradia moved closer to Iosha out of instinct. Cleaning to the woman like a lost babe would to their mother. Aradia jumped a little at Iosha’s sudden exclamation, and looked up at the ceiling. She gasped aloud, and looked up the amazing sight above her. She remembered her mother saying something about this, at the time it only confused the young woman, thinking her mother a little daft in the head, or just telling her a fairy tale. And in the darkness you will find, the stars clinging to the ceiling, pointing you on your way. Aradia repeated the words aloud in Nari, as she stared up at the ceiling with her mouth slightly opened. So it seemed her mother was telling the truth after all. The Singer decided to use her mother’s words, and the sights she had seen in the underground cavern, to write a song. Committing everything she had seen to memory, and holding on to her mother’s words, she planned later on she would write a song, dedicated to her mother. Aradia was so consumed by her thoughts, and the glistening studded ceiling above her, she did not realize that Iosha had spoken, until she said something about the stars. She shook her head, bringing her focus back on the Pale Lady, ”Huh? Oh… We should follow the stars.” Aradia said giving the woman a smile, ”The stars will lead us. The green light might be the green of trees. Aradia said winking at her friend with a lopsided smile on her face. This adventure they were on was just getting more and more interesting, she could not wait to get to their destination, and her legs were feeling the slight ache of all the walking they had already done. Thank the stars I am getting some exercise. The little singer said to herself. And she was happy to be getting some exercise, over the Winter Season she did not get to train as much as she would have liked, so she lost much of her muscle tone. She was still small, just more soft and plush than she would like to be. Especially since the Inarta liked wearing such exposing clothing. She grabbed her friend’s hand, and looked up at the ceiling where the glowing spores were. She smiled over at her friend, and led her in the direction of the stars. It was slightly dark, and she was not chancing losing Iosha in the darkness. Not only because that would scare her to death, but also because she liked to have the woman close to her. They walked, Aradia looking up and watching the trail of stars above leading them, until they came to another cavern. In this cavern the trail of mushroom stars continued, and hung above this particular cavern in masses, illuminating it with their star like light. Not only was that magnificent, but there was a body of water up ahead, seeming to glow a cooling blue color. There were a few small mushroom trees around them; the colors were about the same as the first, except one of them had a purple mushroom instead of a yellow one at the base. Aradia nudged Iosha with her elbow slightly, pointing at the body of water, ”Is that it?” Aradia asked in an almost whispered voice. She was slightly amazed that they had made it thus far in one piece, without interruptions, without running into something dangerous besides the large bats in the first cavern. [/color]

[Iosha]

Iosha walked into the cavern bathed in a soft blue glow because the mushrooms on the ceiling completely filled the cavern leading to the lake. She took a lock of her white hair and started to admire how the glow of the mushroom made her silvery blond hair and white clothing take on the color of the mushrooms. As they walked into the cavern with the underground lake, Iosha couldn't help herself and smile at the forest of mushrooms growing by the shores of the lake. Iosha walked to shore, and she noticed a soft moss carpet growing on the rocky surface of the floor. The konti decided to take off her boots and socks walk bare foot to the water. When she got to the edge of the water, she could hear the sound of water falling into water on the other side of the lake. She sighed in relief because she didn't want to drink stagnant water especially in the place like the Underground Forest. Iosha looked back at Aradia, and she had to admire the beauty of the young woman in the glow of the mushrooms. The woman had a innocent quality about her that Iosha lost many years ago. It made her want to protect the woman from a harsh reality of the world, but Iosha knew it would be fair to her, so she stood their watching the young woman with a small smile on her face. The konti sat on the ground by the lake, she watched the human walk through the moss to her, and she could almost see the glow of the mushrooms reflect off her pale skin. Iosha sat on the rock and dangled her feet into the clear water. Iosha looked at Aradia, patted the mossy ground next to her, and said softly, “The moss is a little damp, but it is quite soft, Aradia. You can sit by me if you like.” As Iosha waited for Aradia to arrive, Iosha started to will a ball of res about the size of apple in the palm of her hand. While, she waited for the res to form, the konti said to Aradia, “You know Aradia being a reimancer yourself and a Inarta. You could help in the hydroponic gardens if you focus on the earth or water elements next, or I could just show you the basics of gardening too.” Iosha was meaning to get down to thunder bay and work in the fields. She knew the head farmer must be getting annoyed at her for being to absorbed in her medicine to get down there. When the ball of res was formed in her hand after a few chimes, she decided to try something different with it. Instead of taking the water from her surrounding, the lake. Iosha wanted to will the res into the element of her choosing. It was harder than absorbing the water from the surrounding environment because she was creating a element from her will alone. She rolled the ball of res in her hand, and she said softly, “Besides, it would be fun to have a friend to talk too while we are tending the gardens.” Iosha violet eyes fall upon the small ball of res, and she started to picture in her mind a ball of water slowly forming in her hand, so her violet eyes willed the ball of res to change into the ball of water. It wasn't a instantaneous process for her, and she didn't force the process to go quicker either in fear of over-giving. Iosha saw the ball of res slowly started to swirl with water. It started with the out layer of the ball first, but since the ball of res was swirling, the water quickly moved to the center first. After a chime, the ball of res repeated the process until ball was completely filled with swirling water. She smiled to herself, but she felt tired from creating a element out of thin air, but the water seemed content hold shape in her white webbed hand. The konti looked up at Aradia and held up the ball of water to her with a smile. Suddenly, Iosha narrowed her eyes as she saw the ball started to waver, and she quickly willed it back into shape. Still holding the ball of water, Iosha looked at Aradia and said softly, “My Grandmother was my teacher of the arcane arts for me, and She was a skilled wizard in both shielding and reimancy. My mother was only skilled with shielding before she died. I learned both disciplines of magic, but reimancy the magic that I am most skilled with. Shielding I am still learning the basics, and I am not very skilled with it.” Iosha looked at the ball of water, and she asked Aradia, “You are skilled with fire reimancy, Aradia? With it are you able to manipulate the temperature of a substance? Can you make things colder along with making things hotter with fire reimancy? I left Mura before I could ask my Grandmother if it was possible. I was curious because I wonder if I could will the ball of water into ice using the fire reimancy to cool the water.” Iosha was always looking for insight from other wizards about her magical theories because they could tell her something could have missed or didn't think about. She looked at the multicolored eyes of the beautiful woman and said softly, “We are here to learn from each other, so you can ask me anything, Aradia?”